Armadillos are distinctive mammals best known for their protective armor made of bony plates covered by tough skin. Depending on the species, they can live in forests, grasslands, savannas, deserts, and even near human settlements. Most armadillos are strong diggers with powerful claws, and many feed heavily on insects such as ants and termites. Below you’ll find 10 notable types of armadillos, with clear descriptions of where they live, how they look, and what makes each species unique.
1) Nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus)
The nine-banded armadillo—sometimes called the long-nosed armadillo in casual references—is one of the most widespread species. It ranges from the southern United States through Central America and much of South America, reaching into northern Argentina. It occupies a wide variety of habitats, including woodlands, tropical forests, savannas, and rural landscapes, and it can tolerate many human-altered environments.
Identification and size
Body length: about 60–80 cm (tail can add up to ~40 cm)
Weight: roughly 3–6 kg
Armor: brownish-gray with multiple movable bands (often around nine)
Diet and behavior
It is primarily insectivorous, focusing on ants and termites, but it may also eat other invertebrates, small vertebrates, and some plant matter. It is typically nocturnal and solitary, spending much of its active time foraging and digging.
2) Large hairy armadillo (Chaetophractus villosus)
Also known as the “big hairy armadillo,” this species is native to southern South America, especially Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and parts of southern Bolivia. It thrives in grasslands, steppes, semi-arid zones, and even deserts, where it excavates deep burrows for shelter.
Identification and lifestyle
Coat: noticeable long, coarse hair—especially along the sides and belly
Color: often yellow-brown to brown
Feeding: omnivorous and opportunistic
Its diet can include insects, roots, eggs, small vertebrates, and carrion. In some regions it is hunted or persecuted due to conflicts with agriculture and livestock production.
A notable reproductive fact
This species is sometimes associated with reports of genetically identical, same-sex litters—an unusual reproductive pattern known in some armadillos. When it occurs, it results from the splitting of a single fertilized egg early in development.
3) Screaming hairy armadillo (Chaetophractus vellerosus)
Known in some areas as the “screaming” or “wailing” armadillo, this smaller species lives in arid and semi-arid regions of Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay. It tends to prefer loose, sandy soils that make burrowing easier, and its distribution can be patchy where habitats have been heavily transformed.
Identification and habits
Length: often around 40 cm
Armor: pale to light-toned, with abundant whitish hair on the belly and flanks
Activity: mostly nocturnal; spends long periods underground
It mainly consumes insects, larvae, and other invertebrates, and may supplement with roots and other plant material.
4) Southern long-nosed armadillo (Dasypus hybridus)
Commonly called “mulita” in parts of its range, this species inhabits natural grasslands and open fields in southern Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, and central-eastern Argentina. Agricultural expansion has reduced some suitable habitat, but stable populations persist in several regions.
Identification and diet
Length: about 45 cm
Weight: roughly 1.5–3 kg
Snout: long, narrow, and tapered
It feeds primarily on insects, earthworms, and other small invertebrates, sometimes taking plant remains. It is usually solitary and more active at night.
5) Giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus)
The giant armadillo is the largest living armadillo species. It occurs mainly in tropical forests and humid woodland landscapes of South America, especially across the Amazon basin. Because it occurs at low densities and faces habitat loss and hunting pressure, it is generally considered vulnerable in many conservation assessments.
Why it stands out
Size: can exceed 1 meter in total length
Weight: can surpass 60 kg
Claws: extremely large foreclaws for digging and tearing into termite mounds
Its diet is heavily focused on ants and termites. It is nocturnal, solitary, and notoriously difficult to observe. It is also known for having a remarkably high number of teeth among terrestrial mammals.
6) Southern three-banded armadillo (Tolypeutes matacus)
This species lives in dry and semi-arid areas of northern Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Brazil, using dry forests, savannas, and scrub habitats. Along with its close Brazilian relative, it is one of the only armadillos capable of rolling into a tight, complete ball.
Key traits
Defense: rolls into a ball to protect the softer underside
Burrowing: unlike many armadillos, it often uses abandoned burrows rather than digging deep shelters itself
Feeding: long sticky tongue adapted for ants and termites
7) Brazilian three-banded armadillo (Tolypeutes tricinctus)
Endemic to Brazil, this three-banded armadillo lives in dry savannas and thorny scrublands, especially in the northeast. Its distribution is narrower than that of the southern three-banded armadillo and is affected by deforestation and agricultural expansion.
Behavior and identification
It shares the signature ability to roll into a ball. It is generally solitary and nocturnal, and it does not typically excavate extensive burrows.
8) Greater naked-tailed armadillo (Cabassous tatouay)
Also called the “greater cabassou” in some sources, this species occurs in forests, savannas, and other habitats across parts of South America. It resembles other naked-tailed armadillos but is typically larger, with noticeably larger ears than some close relatives.
Ecology
Length: around 50 cm
Weight: about 3.4–6.4 kg
Lifestyle: strongly fossorial (burrow-focused), nocturnal, solitary
It is a specialized digger that builds deep tunnel systems, making it challenging to spot in the wild.
9) Andean armadillo (Chaetophractus nationi)
Known locally by names such as “quirquincho,” the Andean armadillo is adapted to cold, dry highland environments in the Andes, especially in Bolivia and northern Argentina. Its thick hair helps insulate it against low temperatures and harsh conditions at elevation.
Diet and pressures
It eats insects, roots, and other plant matter. In some areas it has been hunted for meat and for its shell, which has contributed to local declines.
10) Pink fairy armadillo (Chlamyphorus truncatus)
The pink fairy armadillo is often described as the smallest living armadillo. It lives in central Argentina in sandy regions with firm grasses, and it has a relatively limited distribution. Because it is highly sensitive to environmental change and spends most of its life underground, it is considered difficult to study and rarely observed.
Unique characteristics
Size: around 15 cm long
Armor: pink, flexible, and adapted to a burrowing lifestyle
Behavior: extremely subterranean; can disappear into soil very quickly when threatened
It mainly eats ants and larvae, but may also take worms, snails, roots, and other small underground foods.
Common traits that help you recognize armadillos
Protective armor: bony plates covered by tough skin, often with movable bands.
Powerful claws: adapted for digging burrows and accessing insect nests.
Mostly nocturnal habits: many species are more active at night or during cooler hours.
Insect-heavy diets: ants and termites are staple foods for many types.
